Fox Gets Failing Grade In Network Diversity Reports — Sort Of

Fox received an “F” from the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition and the National Latino Media Council today in the groups’ annual network report cards. But it’s not because the network that airs The Mindy Project doesn’t have enough Asian Pacific Americans or Latinos on their shows and in their company — it’s because Fox missed its deadlines to report its numbers. The APAMC says that on November 1 it gave Fox a deadline of November 15 to get back to them with the ethnic mix of their programming on both sides of the camera. “We didn’t get anything from them this year,” APAMC co-chair Guy Aoki said. The co-chair also said the APAMC has a long-scheduled meeting with Fox set for Tuesday, though they don’t know who will be there. At the same time, the group, which gave Fox a C- overall last year, praised the network as being the only one that met its 2011 challenge to cast an Asian Pacific American in a lead role on a TV series: Debuting this season, Mindy Project stars and was created by Mindy Kaling whose heritage is Indian. The National Latino Media Council also criticized Fox today for not meeting its November 8 deadline. “For the last couple of years the Fox Diversity team has been unresponsive to NLMC’s request for timely and complete data,” they said.

In response, Fox said today that they wanted to provide “more accurate data” but were unable to do so within the APAMC’s and NLMC’s timelines. Here’s the statement from Fox:

This year, in an effort to ensure that the information we report is truly reflective of our talent, FOX has been working to collect more accurate data from the studios that employ our actors, writers and directors. We were unable to deliver that data within the Coalitions’ press release deadline, but we are still committed to providing it once it has been gathered in full. It’s unfortunate that this is being used as the sole basis for the report card grade, given that the Coalitions themselves acknowledge that FOX has some very positive stories to tell. We believe that reflecting diverse talent and viewpoints is imperative to the success of our business, and while we respect the Coalitions, our focus is on demonstrating this commitment to our viewers.

The APAMC looks at eight categories: actors, unscripted (reality) show participants, writers/producers, directors, development, procurement, executives, and network initiatives. This year’s report card gave NBC a B-, down from last year’s B. CBS went to a C+ from a B-. ABC maintained its C+ from last year. Fox did not respond to requests for comment on its F. Using the same criteria, the NLMC gave NBC an overall A- this year for its behind-the-camera diversity. CBS got a B+ and ABC a B.

Right on. If people would think of themselves as Americans, they’d see an abundance of “representation.”

Sean C. • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Recall that it was white America that created these distinctions in the first place by establishing a society that valued whiteness over everything else. So these other groups pointing out how they continue to be discriminated against is simply reacting to that reality, and that’s not something that goes away just because you’d like people to pretend it doesn’t exist.

Elia • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Well said, Sean.

Deg • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Maybe Fox missed the deadline because… “A lot of us have our head up our asses,” Fox’s Kevin Reilly said today about TV executives.

killertv • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

“Hey, please be sure to give us all the data you have so that we can give you some bad press. Did we mention that you have to do it within a certain time period? Otherwise, you’ll fail. And not like the other networks usually fail, this time you’ll seriously fail. I mean, sure, we could go on IMDB or Studio System or research through agents, but that would take away from the time we spend trying to be relevant.”

Rich • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Comment of the day!

Johnny Ringo • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Exactly. One can fully support the idea of diversity in media while conceding that these organizations seem to have a really f*cked-up way of doing business.

Bob • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Really good way to put it.

Minority Report • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

These groups should try contributing something positive to society rather than trying to make everything about color.

Elia • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

How do you contribute when you are not let into the house?

No Elia, not white and male. • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

That’s a stupid comment. There’s plenty of diversity “in the house”. This is just external orginizations trying to make themselves feel important by attaching themselves and then trying to bring down a big company. Nothing good ever comes out of these reports, why would anyone want to participate.

Minority Report • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

There is more to society than TV.

Elia • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

“Plenty of diversity”… Your right to bury head in the stand and continue supporting discrimination and misogyny.

sffan • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

I’d prefer if FOX spend their energies trying to come up with shows worth watching. It doesn’t matter what color the actors are, if they’re performing tired drivel that makes the audience change the channel.

Miffy • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

A useless organization that has no right to tell anyone what to do or hand over. Stand strong, Fox – tell these useless losers to fuck off.

agree • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

killertv – couldn’t agree more. what an infuriatingly low, petty, desperate, and even libelous tactic for this group to take in order to gain attention for itself and its own strident, self-righteous, irrelevant racial quotas. shame on everyone involved.

Elia • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

So when you’re discriminated against (look at the Emmy winners, they’re all white), you get your voice heard by raising it. Bravo to APAMC and NLMC!!!

Grey • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

The minority masses don’t care to hear your voice. If they did shows on UPN would have been blockbuster hits. More importantly, nobody is discriminating against the only color that matters in this town – the color green.

Alternatively, sharing in your plight are the masses who don’t want the whitewashed world of Ken and Barbie on the CW. Nobody is really watching that network either. Only problem is, advertisers do want to reach Ken and Barbie or at least Barbie’s younger sister Skipper.

Simply put, the mass television audience doesn’t matter and unless a niche audience has money or can extract money out of the hands of their affluent parents they don’t matter either.

So why blame a business model (American T.V.) for giving it’s customers (Advertisers) exactly what they want? Why applaud APAMC or NLMC for adding nothing of contributing value?

You really never change anything from the outside. Change comes from within.
I disapprove the APAMC and NLMC for wasting their resources. Why not shift more of a focus on getting minorities a skilled or higher education so their earning potential elicits the proper response from Madison Avenue?

The economical world was not created to serve the masses. When black, brown, yellow, red, purple, etc. bleeds green, then they will be represented on what you see in the media. Until then, shut up and put your money where your mouth is.

Grey • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

* Oh and I mean change from within Corporate America, not Corporate Television. You could plaster the airwaves with minorities and still have nothing changed.

Elia • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Slavery was a business. But your idiotic reasoning, Grey, you are okay with slavery and other forms of discrimination as long as money is involved.

Grey • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Elia, you label my reasoning “idiotic” while making no point and adding nothing to the conversation. Glad you could get your irrational comment off your chest? Now show me where I said I was okay with slavery or other forms of discrimination as long as money is involved.

Fact is American T.V. is ad supported not viewer supported. So what do you think American networks owe an audience who doesn’t pay for programing and explain your reasoning why?

When’s the last time a poor white family was represented on any network in a non-comedy?
How do the characters on Friends afford their Greenwich Village apartments?
Why do all the people on Gossip Girl look like Calvin Kline models?
Oh wait a minute… could it be that even the reality of most “white people” are unrepresented?
You think this has something to do with television being aspirational?
Do you think the audience advertisers are targeting aspire to be Pacific Islander?

What do you think a network like BET owes to a white audience? What are the numbers of white creatives behind the scenes over there? I challenge BET to have one pilot with a Caucasian star on the air by next development season.

To explain • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

to validate what you said, Mitt Romney would be president.

Grey • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Hmm… interesting point. I’m not entirely sure I follow your statement. While I see a blurred line between Hollywood and D.C., it’s not entirely accurate to say Romney would be President to hold my previous statements true.

The American political model was created to serve the masses. The Capitalist business model was created to serve the few.

Sadly, we have career politicians who wheel and deal like business men with status on the brain instead of intelligent men with integrity in the heart. We have networks owned by corporations with profit on the brain instead of networks obligated to the best interest of the American people. With that said, greed is at the core of both worlds. In an ideal situation, corporations would be kicked out of both.

However, to further complicate the whole minority being represented in Hollywood media debate is whether the majority of minorities (including poor white people and all unattractive people) even want to see the reality of themselves on screen to begin with. I’d love to read peoples take on that, but don’t feel this is the forum to elaborate.

Worrying about “white caucasians” being fairly represented is one of the most stupid things I’ve ever heard. Try again.

uhhh • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

You complaining about White representation in APAMC is like Mitt Romney complaining he doesn’t get welfare checks.

Columbo • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Fuck diversity!

HellaEpic • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

I just had a junior-high flash back. Thinking of the days when I received an F.
Me: No, teacher, not an F.
Teacher: Get over here boy, I’m gonna beat you with my ruler.

If I were FOX, I would be shacking in my BVD’s.

RJ • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Who the hell cares? It’s like when the LGBT says shows aren’t gay enough. Shows like The Mindy Project suck anyways; viewers are quickly rejecting it. The race/sexual orientation doesn’t make a good show. These are completely useless.

Chris • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

The only color a network cares about is GREEN. If they thought they had the next Cosby show they’d rush it to air. But they will air whatever they think makes Green.

Just the facts.

Asian female • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Forcing networks to cast minorities isn’t going to work. Let them do whatever they want. Just stop supporting them and find our own way…

24p • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Maybe the PGA should get involved…an absurdly useless organization dealing with a totally ridiculous issue. Sounds like the perfect politically correct marriage and a marvelous waste of time. Whatever happened to just working hard and dogged persistence. That’s how to be successful in ANY business.

Anchorboy • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Any agent or manager will tell you, the hardest writer to break-in the the staffing game is a White Male because of these Diversity Programs.

However, if you are truly talented, it doesn’t make a difference, great material will eventually rise to the top no matter what race you are.

Bill H • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

I just checked the fall network lineup; NOT ONE ESKIMO IN ANY PRIME-TIME SHOWS! I’m absolutely DISGUSTED!

Carmen • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Making sure that the diverse voices that make up the United States are reflected in our media outlets is only beneficial to our progress as a nation. The work of NHMC and APAMC is crucial in helping ensure that Television Networks do the most to include all Americans in their work and programming. Great job, NHMC & APAMC! Too bad Fox couldn’t get their info in on time, maybe they’ll get it together next year.

Orin • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Requiring ethnic data to confirm diversity seems self serving and the use of that word disturbs me. Ethnicity is just one way to achieve diversity. What about people with disabilities who are even LESS represented than ethnic minorities and have been just as persecuted, discriminated against and oppressed throughout history? There’s a long list of factors that contribute to diversity in an organization – lets not just look at skin color otherwise it’s being racist and not really committed to diversity IMHO

D. • on Nov 29, 2012 4:16 pm

I think people are missing the larger issue here. If everyone was being equally represented in these television shows on any network, not just FOX, there would be no reason for these ethnic groups to be established who have to monitor these occurences. If the playing field was in fact fair, these groups would have no need to exist nor would they have to collect data to make sure everything is being distributed fairly & equally; but obviously they are needed. Everyone can go on trashing these organizations existance, or attack them for trying to exploit, but the fact of the matter is they have bought some type of awareness to this issue & hopefully it will lead to or be a catalyst to some type of reform in the way casting is done, and that is the point. I see so many breakdowns come out & right away they are putting a limit on the amount of talent they can see by attaching a race or sometimes even a gender. I see so many colleagues who miss out on the opportunity to audition for a show because they aren’t “ethnically ambiguous” but fit all other aspects of a breakdown. In the end, it is the casting director, the producer, the writer, the director, & the studio who are suffering because they are limiting their scope of talent they see by attaching these specifics. If you are talented, you should be able to get in the door!